Here's Looking at You, kid!

Two years ago, I made a paper mache dragon.  I love him. If you want more info on making your own check out The Gourmet Paper Mache - Dan Reeder.  Amazing work.

After I made this guy I kept thinking I wanted to recreate my dragon in cake.  Then I as I was gathering all my stuff to head to CookieCon this year I thought, why not a dragon cookie!

I made an orange dragon cookie (above) super quick and didn't take any photos while making him.  So, when I got home I made another one and got some pics done.  Here you go....

Supplies you will need:  Edible image of some eyes, half orb mold, Corn texture mat for skin and some CakePlay isomalt.

Select an eye image you want to use.  Print it on edible image paper.  I used the premium icing sheets from Icing Images. Cut it out and remove backing.

For this eye I am using clear isomalt.  But don't limit yourself here.  Go with what you think will work.  Yellow, red, maybe a green.  They could all look good with the right eye and the right sugar piece.

Melt a small amount of clear isomalt in a microwave safe container.  Also, don't be like me....wear gloves.  As Peggy Tucker says, No Gloves = No Sugar Love.  Here is a blog for some general rules on sugar safety; Click here.

Fill the orb cavity you decide to use approximately half way.  Play with this, the eyes look great with different amounts of isomalt.  Play around and decide what works best for you.

Let the isomalt cool just a bit.  You don't want it still bubbling but you don't want it to completely set either.  Drop your eye image down on the isomalt.  Use the tool of your choice to center the image.  I use stainless steel chopsticks.

Again, let this set just a few second or so.  This will depend on the temp of the isomalt in your cup.  You don't want it too hot but you do need to be able to pour it.  Then back the eye with some more.  I used clear again.  It works as well using a white isomalt.  Feel free to play with the color.

If you have some bubbles pop up and quick shot from a blow torch should do the trick.  Don't linger with the blow torch, as you don't want to ruin your mold or burn the isomalt.

Now is when you need to be patient.  Wait until the isomalt is fully set to remove -- I tap the mold with a chopstick to make sure it is solid. Your eye will look cloudy like it has a cataract.  This is the isomalt that was touching the silicone.

A quick kiss from the blowtorch will make it shiny.  Hard to tell with glare on this pic.

Now, on to the cookie.  I did not have time to make some cookies.  So, I'm using Notta Cookies.  I placed my eye and then used a fondant/modeling chocolate mixture to build up for the cheek bone.  The eye looks much clearer here with less glare!

For the scales texture I used the Corn Texture Mat.  I rolled it thick and then stretched to get the scales I wanted.  When using a mat I prefer to roll with my fondant on top of the mat.  This gives me the best results.  

Then when finished you flip it over and peel the mat off the fondant. 

Stretch and drape over your cookie.

Cut out the eye.

Now he needs eye lids.  I used a row off the corn mat and shaped it around the eye.  Place the lower lid first, then the top.

Horns were hand rolled teardrop shapes of fondant.

Forgot to get a pic of all of them lined up.  I used a ball tool to indent where each would go and put a dab of glue to hold them in place.

Next step is to add some color and dimension.

I didn't get photos of the painting but here is what I did.  I mixed the colors with some everclear.  I started with the Aubergine and made it very thin.  I wanted the color to pool down into the cracks.  I let that sit for just a minute, then used a new makeup sponge to wipe off the excess.  I then went back and highlighted the tops with the Lavender.

Base of the horns were dusted with the Emerald and tips brushed with the Bumble Bee.  A light dusting of both here and there on the full cookie as well.

I finished off with a light spray from PME Clear Edible Glaze Spray to give the scales a shine.

DTC Products Used:
Misc - Half Orbs
Texture Mat Lg2 - Corn

Shell Santa

Getting ready for a beachy Christmas!

While cleaning out some boxes I found a cute Santa ornament of my mom's.  I immediately thought it would be a great addition to a beachy Christmas. Here is my finished sugar one next to the ornament.

For this one I used a Turritella type shell.  Any size will work.

I used ivory AmeriColor that was diluted with everclear (or clear alcohol of choice).  Paint in the face area.

Use a black food coloring pen to add eyes.

Use a red food coloring pen to add a mouth. 

Paint on a red hat. 

Then use some royal icing to pipe on the hat brim and mustache. 

Last use some super pearl to cover the rest of the shell. 

Spiral Shells:

Spiral Shell #2
Spiral Shell #4

Spiral Shell #3

Tooled Leather Book

Create a great book with our tooled leather texture mat!

Roll out paste and use texture mat to emboss the design.  Pull mat off fondant to avoid stretching the design. Cut to size and place on cake.

Use a dowel to get the valley near the spine.

Using a combination of sponges and brushes add the color into the recesses of the design. 

To cover the cake board and carry through on the book theme, I used wafer paper from Icing Images.  I printed some pages of poetry with an edible image printer.  Then randomly tear the pages and apply to the board with piping gel.  I made sure not to glue down the edges of the torn bits. 

Once the board is covered lightly spritz with water.  Wait for the wafer paper to dry and check the amount of curl the edges have.  Spritz additional times to get desired results. 

Next I used a brush and some of the same colors I used on the book to add some color to the edges of the papers. 

To get a slight shine on the leather I used PME clear spray on the book cover. 

For the corners of the book I wanted to add some embellishment. Using the corner mold, brown and gold dust to get an aged look.  

I used the same mold for the lower corners but cut finished molded item. 

Look at the lower edge for the cut portions

Using the same printed wafer paper I created a fun flower.  

DTC Products Used:
Texture Mat Lg - Tooled Leather 

Get great wafer paper from Icing Images

For a more detailed description on how to create a book cake, check out the great video by Sharon Zambito at SugarEd Productions.

Happy Pills

If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, these pills will be easy to swallow!

Using various colors of fondant fill your pill mold. I also used some DECOgel to get pills that look like a Vitamin D or fish oil capsule.

DTC Molds Used:

Med - Pills

Icing Images products used:

DECOgel